ACADEMICS

Elementary Education

Elementary EducationTeacher Licensure Program

The Elementary Education major prepares candidates for Initial Licensure as a teacher of children in a public school classroom, grades 1 through 6. The program of study is based upon a broad liberal arts foundation and an integrated professional teacher preparation program. A course waiver process is available for transfer students where appropriate. Fieldwork accompanies most education courses and is a necessary component of the program. Student prepracticum experiences should include a wide variety of field settings. Students should attend different and varied schools in urban, rural and suburban settings. They should also vary their placements and grade levels in different school buildings within districts to insure a well rounded experience.

The Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) is embedded in the program at various stages and must be passed for completion of the program and licensure. Requirements for a Major in Elementary Education: 42 credits

ED 148 Foundations of Reading

ED 155 Teaching and Learning Elementary School

ED 200 Best Practices for English Language Learners

ED 250 Educational Psychology

ED 275 Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education

ED 320 Elementary Science

ED 325 Elementary Math

ED 330 Elementary Social Studies and Multiculturalism

ED 343 Elementary Reading, Language Arts and Literature

ED 425 Seminar: Applying Educational Principles

ED 435 Student Teaching in the Elementary School

Prerequisite Course:

MA 130 Number and Operations for Teachers

MA 131 Patterns, Functions and Algebra for Teachers

MA 132 Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers

PS 210 Development Psychology

Recommended Courses:

HE 100 Personal Health

HE 120 Health and Nutrition

Students will also be required to take specific liberal arts and science courses to satisfy LASC requirements.

Students planning to major in Elementary Education will progress through a three-stage process. Each stage must be satisfactorily completed before passage to the next stage.

Stage I Elementary Education Major

Students must demonstrate competence in communication skills by completion of the following course with a grade of C or higher:
• EN 102 English Composition II (or equivalent)

Students must demonstrate competence in Math with a grade of C or higher in the following courses:
• MA 130 Numbers and Operations for Teachers • MA 131 Patterns, Functions and Algebra for Teachers • MA 132 Geometry, Measurement, Probability and Statistics for Teachers

Students must submit a Criminal Offender Records Information (CORI) application and be approved prior to doing classroom observations in Worcester Public Schools. No student is allowed to do fieldwork unless approval of the CORI has been received from the state.

Students demonstrate potential for teaching children by completing all of the following courses with a grade of C+ or higher AND earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• PS 210 Developmental Psychology • ED 155 Teaching and Learning in the Elementary School (15 hours fieldwork) • ED 250 Educational Psychology (10 hours fieldwork) • ED 275 Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education (10 hours fieldwork)

Students must have received a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills Test (MTEL).

Any departure from the prescribed program of study for teacher licensure must have Waiver Committee approval prior to advancement to Stage II.

Stage II Elementary Education Major

1.Upon satisfactory completion of Stage I requirements, the student is eligible to apply for formal admission to the Elementary Education Licensure Program. The application must include MTEL test results and transcripts of all previous course work. Approval by the Education Department is necessary for a student to progress to Stage II.

During Stage II, students must complete all of the following courses with a grade of C+ or higher AND earn a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Fieldwork accompanies the following methods courses.
• ED 200 Best Practices for English Language Learners • ED 320 Elementary Science (10 hours fieldwork) • ED 325 Elementary Math (10 hours fieldwork) • ED 330 Elementary Social Studies and Multiculturalism (10 hours fieldwork)

Stage III Elementary Education Major - Practicum

Upon satisfactory completion of Stage II requirements, the student is eligible to apply for formal admission into the Practicum, ED 435 Practicum Teaching: Elementary School (Corequisite ED 425).

Students must have received a passing score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) in Communication and Literacy Skills, Foundations of Reading and the new General Curriculum Test for Elementary Majors which includes a separately scored Mathematics subtest.

The Stage III application will be reviewed and acted upon by the Licensure Officer.

Students must have attained senior standing (90 credits of course work) to student teach.

Students convicted of a felony may be denied admission to student teaching.

Additional information regarding formal application into student teaching is available from the Education Department